Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (named after, apparently, a redwood forest, not a person) opens with a rich malty nose, full of cream, coffee, light tobacco, chocolate malt, and thickly-baking multigrain wheat bread, and thus smelling an awful lot like my grandmother's kitchen.

On the tongue, the beer begins with a shot of coffee with cream, tobacco, and brown sugar, moving quickly into a more ash-laden mid-mouthful, but still nicely tempered by sweet creams and toasted pecans. In subsequent mouthfuls the hops tend to play a larger role, mainly by adding a good, but not obstructive bitterness. In all cases, the latter part of the mouthful is sweet cream, some charcoal and ash, nuts, and chocolate malts. The aftertaste is a continuation of these latter flavors, and lasts for a good while. Mouthfeel is a silky medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is a very good oatmeal stout, finely balanced and silky smooth, and leaving you wanting another mouthful.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:39:26 | More by jondeelee

MaximalC

Illinois

3.71/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours seal brown with nearly an inch of khaki foam that takes its time settling. Plenty of patchy, reticulated lacing clings to the glass as the beer descends. Aroma is mild, smelling of bittersweet chocolate and a hint of floral hops. The taste features the same bittersweet chocolate, some black coffee, and even some dark fruit and alcohol lurking in the back. A modest dose of balancing hops meld seamlessly with the bitterness of the roasted malt. A tasteful roasted character lingers in the throat after imbibing as well.

The flavors here are complex but understated, and they would be better served by a heavier body. As is, the mouthfeel is disappointingly thin for an oatmeal stout. With that said, this remains one highly drinkable oatmeal stout, as I'd have no problem draining this in no time.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 01:08:25 | More by MaximalC

barefoot71

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-20-2013 16:27:01 | More by barefoot71

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-20-2013 13:34:50 | More by touchmeimsac

DIPAFAN

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-20-2013 00:50:48 | More by DIPAFAN

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a pint glass.

A: Pours a deep brown almost black color forming a big and bubbled tan head. Good retention and only few lacings left in the glass

S: Strong smell of roasted malts. Strong notes of dark chocolate, chocolate malts, coffee. Quite biscuity. Earthy yeasts and some flowery hops

T: Strong on roasted malts, dark chocolate, coffee. In overall, a dry taste. Biscuity too. Earthy notes. Good bitterness which is more related with the roasted malts than with hops. Quite balanced and plasant, anyway

M: Medium and creamy body. Medium carbonation. Roasted malts aftertaste

O: Good drinkability. Great American Stout

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 11:59:22 | More by eduardolinhalis

tree777

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-19-2013 00:40:55 | More by tree777

Slikpitt

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-18-2013 03:40:01 | More by Slikpitt

Gregg_Kawakami

Hawaii

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-17-2013 04:47:14 | More by Gregg_Kawakami

jburd19

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-17-2013 02:35:11 | More by jburd19

verge

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-16-2013 21:48:38 | More by verge

pin

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-16-2013 19:40:04 | More by pin

Zbeetleman

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

05-15-2013 05:19:17 | More by Zbeetleman

bbluemzbeer

California

3/5  rDev -26.7%

05-14-2013 16:08:08 | More by bbluemzbeer

Buick222

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

05-13-2013 20:15:15 | More by Buick222

cre83

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 09:20:56 | More by cre83

zenithberwyn

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-11-2013 07:03:02 | More by zenithberwyn

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-10-2013 05:28:34 | More by Lawl3ss

Thedrizzle

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-10-2013 01:12:33 | More by Thedrizzle

Hardcore

Hawaii

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-07-2013 23:05:56 | More by Hardcore

MikeCactusGordon

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-06-2013 12:39:29 | More by MikeCactusGordon

sommersb

Tennessee

3.46/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 05-03-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. can
Glassware: Tulip pint
Purchased: Received in a trade

Black and opaque beer, topped with a big 3 fingers of tan head. Retention is very good and the lacing leaves a nice amount of head on the glass.

Smells remind me of brown bread, toasted grains and molasses, although these aromas do not suggest any sweetness.

The taste is simple and straightforward, with roasted malts giving it a coffee-like bitterness.

Medium bodied, the finish is neither dry nor sweet, with an average amount of carbonation. Did not have the smoothness/creaminess I'd expect from an oatmeal stout.

Overall a solid stout here, but did not seem as exceptional as you might expect based on the reviews.

Thanks to DrewShal9 on the trade

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 03:19:20 | More by sommersb

Goosehunter75

Missouri

4.26/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a dark chocolate with over 2 fingers tan head. Great retention and moderate lacing

S - Lots of chocolate and coffee. You can definately smell toasted malts as well

T - Tastes like someone melts M & Ms in a cup of coffee. Wonderful flavor. Sweet up front with a noticable bitter finish. Quite tasty

M - Medium body beer. Very smooth drinking. Sort of creamy feeling. Low carb

O - I really enjoyed this beer. Its a easy drinking stout with loads of flavor. The beer looks great as has a great aroma as well. Top notch.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 15:00:51 | More by Goosehunter75

dcbeers

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-30-2013 03:35:34 | More by dcbeers

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.86/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Can from Total Wine in Tampa. From notes.

A - Poured nearly black with a nice 3 finger fluffy light brown head. Minimal spotty lace and a film of retention.

S - Super malty as expected. Coffee was mild, roastiness was lovely though. Mild vanilla in there too. A nice aroma.

T - Sweetness up front with roast, nuttiness, caramel, some coffee, and some cola too.

M - Proper mild carbonation. Oddly thinner body than expected, but on the heavier end of light. Fairly clean finish with some bitterness.

O/D - A good oatmeal stout. Seemed weaker than aroma leads you towards, but it's enjoyable. Potential for greatness in this one, it just fell a little short.

Serving type: can

04-29-2013 22:24:03 | More by tbeckett